Assessing modulation of the cytoskeleton in differing macrophage phenotypes: relevance to macrophage invasion, proteolytic profile and foam-cell formation, during the progression of cardiovascular pathologies

About This PhD Project

Project Description

Collectively, cardiovascular pathologies including atherosclerosis, aneurysms and heart failure, account for more deaths world-wide than other disease. Accordingly, a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these pathologies is paramount for the identification and development of both biomarkers and treatments of these diseases. The past decade has highlighted the prominent role of macrophages in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, however more current research has demonstrated that macrophages can co-exist as varying phenotypes which display an array of differing properties. Recent findings have suggested that macrophage subsets display divergent proteolytic profiles whilst also harbouring differing migratory and invasive capabilities. We have recently identified dynamic alterations in the actin cytoskeleton of macrophage phenotypes that correlate with their protease profile, motility, and morphology. Moreover, the transformation of macrophages into foam-cells exerts dynamic effects on their cytoskeleton, which appears to be dictated in part by their original phenotype. This studentship will test the hypothesis that the actin cytoskeleton is differentially regulated in macrophage subsets and upon foam-cell formation, and subsequently dictates their function and contribution to cardiovascular pathologies such as atherosclerosis.

When applying please select ’Cardiac Surgery PhD’ within the Faculty of Health Sciences.